Nicole Field's Blog, page 26
February 11, 2016
Discussing poetic form with Stephen Fry (26:16) - Literature and Mental Health - The University of Warwick
This video exploration on the structure of words within poetry goes for just over 25 minutes and is worth every second of it. It comes from The University of Warwick’s Literature and Mental Health course, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised to find Stephen Fry so eloquently and passionately speaking. His words on poetry make me think of how to structure poems, how to structure prose, how to structure sentences and the significance of the ways in which words are put together more generally.
Very worth watching for readers and writers alike. Amazingly, it is fully downloadable from the website.
February 10, 2016
"While you should always feel free to express your feelings to me, no apologies during sex."
- Wise words.
kristenwiiggle:
Oh look, my sexuality crosses my dashboard...
Oh look, my sexuality crosses my dashboard again. @fragilesoftmachines.
God, just look at how much he’s enjoying it. Does that smile even leave his face the entire time?
queenquong:
gingerpermission:
standbyyourmantis:
edwardspoonha...
YES.
I once saw someone point out something I hadn’t really considered before- libraries are one of the only places that are warm and dry where you can stay for long periods of time if you have no money. If you’re someone with nowhere to go during the daytime, they provide a safe environment in which to keep a roof over your head for a while- and all while you can access information.
So yes. This.
It’s weird…libraries almost feel /wrong/ now. It’s like I walk in and think “This is great…where do I put my money?”
I used to work on a campus library and if you want someplace to put your money, so to speak, make sure you put books back in the designated areas. I know you think you’re being helpful by reshelving, but even if you pull something out to read a couple paragraphs just stick it in the basket for things you didn’t want. I don’t care if you know EXACTLY where you are. In academic libraries (at least in Texas) our funding was determined by how many books people looked at. So we got additional funding based on books not being reshelved. If there’s a designated shelf/basket for things you don’t want, stick things in it!
What @standbyyourmantis said about not reshelving is true for public libraries, too. Our funding is dictated largely by how ‘used’ we are, so we scan all the items that are laying about as In House Use. That, tied with Reference Count and Door Counter numbers (we have to manually put in the time we take for references) to prove we’re providing a needed service.
We also have to count the number of people who come for our programs, which not only helps funding but shows that the programming/services are needed, as well.
So, basically, if you want to feel like you’re making sure we’re getting paid and staying around, keep these in mind.
I didn’t know that’s why you’re not supposed to reshelf!
February 8, 2016
"I write in periods of forty-five minutes using my cell phone timer, and take fifteen-minute breaks..."
-
Asali Solomon
(via mttbll)
YES THIS
(via kateracculia)
I tried this during November (Nano) with all the writing sprints that were going on. From December, my writing periods have been 20 minutes with my mobile phone timer, because 15 minute sprints were always too short and 25 minutes were always too long. In between, I can get up and make a cup of tea, sweep the floor or browse the internet, then get back to it. These sessions will literally go all day, and I’ll be like, ‘How have several hours gone by? They’re only 20 minute sessions!’ Then I’ll count how many I’ve done, but it’s like no time at all.
I especially love the first one of the morning: You don’t want to write, your attention and interest isn’t there yet, but you think, ‘20 minutes? That’s no so bad, that’s not so long.’ And that’s where it starts. Soon enough, I’m in the groove and I’m writing well after the 20 minute timer has gone off.
So glad that I’m not the only one doing this.
February 5, 2016
owlcrate:
Did you hear?? Benjamin Alire Saenz has confirmed...
Did you hear?? Benjamin Alire Saenz has confirmed that he is working on a sequel for Aristotle and Dante!
February 4, 2016
thedailydrawble:
Another crack at Donia, the overly mischievous...
Another crack at Donia, the overly mischievous faerie. I didn’t like the previous iteration of her wings, so I thought I’d give it another go.
February 3, 2016
smartassjen:
fan-tastig:
Her Story - episode 6
Watch...
Her Story - episode 6
Watch here: herstoryshow.com
Her Story is a web series about the dating lives of trans & queer women, which stars trans & queer women, and was written and directed by trans & queer women. (One of the creators Jen Richards is also on tumblr @smartassjen )
More gifs here
Can I talk about this scene?
While it comes at the end, It was actually the first one I wrote. It was originally an epic Julia Sugarbaker-type monologue where Paige goes in deep on all the ways white queer culture excludes and hurts trans women. Everyone told me it was way too long and had to be cut down. We struggled a long time with how to do that. One night Laura & I were talking with Sydney and someone (I can’t remember who now), said, “What if went the opposite way and had her barely speak at all?” Laura and I started re-writing on the spot, imagining Angelica carrying the scene with just her looks, allowing the Lisa character to talk herself into a hole until Paige delivers just the core message of the monologue.
And that core message is what I love about the final version.
Paige is not engaging in a debate about the reality of trans women, or the arguments of some lesbians who feel they don’t belong. She recognizes that Lisa, and people like her, have decided that trans women aren’t women, but she doesn’t care.
ALL she cares is about is the safety of trans women. That’s the focus of her work, that’s her motivation, that’s the only reason she goes to the cafe to confront Lisa.
Paige has had a lifetime of being told what her body means, where she belongs, and has overcome all of it. She’s beyond people like Lisa. She’s fighting for the safety of other girls like her, and make no mistake, she will win.
I just really fucking love Paige.
@thedailydrawble This is the mini series I was telling you about, and also includes this amazing commentary from one of the creators.
Thank you for this incredible series @smartassjen. It’s truly amazing.
thereaderbee:
#StarsAbove by Melissa Meyer was released into...
#StarsAbove by Melissa Meyer was released into the wild yesterday, and the cover is SO GORGEOUS!! All of the covers for this series are stunning. I’m so glad to have them in my collection. Now I just have to find time to finish the series!!
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If you still haven’t checked out this series, you’ll have a chance on the blog next week when I giveaway a set to one lucky winner!! You’ll definitely want to check that out, and add these books to your TBR as well!!
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What is YOUR favorite book in #TheLunarChronicles series??
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#MarissaMeyer #JoinTheResistance #LunarChronicles @fiercereads #sponsor #bookstagrammer
Stars Above has been released!! This is not a drill!
Almost a week into brain storming for this new web comic...
Almost a week into brain storming for this new web comic project, and I thought it might be fun to post some inspiration images.
Eeeeeverybody knows Delirium’s face. Made popular in the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman, Delirium is exactly what she sounds like: the embodiment of, well, delirium, and delight.
To go with Brian, our asexual siren in a polyamorous triad, we needed to figure out the rest of the triad. One of these was a faery. I may have been a little adamant about that. Our poly, bisexual, switch faery has a mouth on her and more curves than Delirium, but I totally wanted the kind of visual aesthetic of Delirium to be captured in this creature.
Ville Valo is possibly less well known than Delirium, but he has a pretty face and, most importantly for this character inspiration, wonderful hair that, honestly, would look good on a person of any gender.
Tobey is our gender-curious token-human who introduces our tribe of supernatural creatures to the wonder that is Melbourne coffee. When Yana asked me what kind of hair I imagined this character having, my mind immediately went to Ville.
Last, but certainly not least, is my very favourite piece of art by @deerishus. I’ve seriously loved it since I saw it, and I was never any great fan of centaurs. This image, however, decided me on having a centaur who was part of our cast. Just that, really. Deer showed me how cool a centaur really could be.
Shannon is the third part of the poly triad with Brian and Donia, and is also in a separate relationship with Tobey. If you think this might be too much, don’t worry, we have our plans in place for how we’ll introduce them all so it doesn’t get too headachey.
